Latin American Studies
Full Time Faculty: Ernesto
Capello (History), Amanda Ciafone (International Studies), Amy Damon
(Economics), Paul Dosh (Political Science), Galo González (Hispanic
and Latin American Studies), Olga González (Anthropology), Lara
Nielsen (Theatre and Dance), Margaret (Molly) Olsen (Hispanic and Latin
American Studies), Raymond Robertson (Director, Economics)
Latin America is defined by multiple historical and
cultural processes, socio-economic paths, and political trajectories.
Macalester’s Latin American Studies program acknowledges the
complexity and historical depth of the region’s pre-Columbian past;
centuries of colonial domination; deep inequalities based on gender, class,
and race and ethnicity; and national identities constructed out of
indigenous, African, and European elements.
The Latin American Studies program thrives at the
intersections of humanities, social science, and the arts, and values
scholarly, testimonial, and creative work by Latin American writers and
artists. The 13-course major provides a vibrant forum for students to
develop core skills including: 1) interdisciplinarity; 2) language skills;
3) communication (written, oral, and visual); 4) argumentation and use of
evidence; 5) comparison across national boundaries; 6) crafting a
theoretical framework; 7) research design; and 8) civic engagement.
The major culminates in an integrative capstone
experience, often rooted in original fieldwork conducted while abroad in
Latin America. The results of each capstone project are shared in an
academic or community publication or presentation in the United States
and/or in Latin America. The program provides outstanding preparation for
professional careers, graduate studies, competitive fellowships, and
community-based work in Latin America.
General Distribution Requirement
Latin American Studies 141, 244, 245, 246, 249, 255,
265, 323, and 341 count toward the general distribution requirement in
social science. Latin American Studies 181, 281, 282, 307, 415, 416, and
436 count toward the general distribution requirement in humanities. Latin
American Studies 264 counts toward the fine arts distribution.
General Education Requirements
Courses that meet the general education requirements
in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism, and multiculturalism
will be posted on the Registrar’s web page in advance of registration
each semester.
Additional information regarding the general
distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be
found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog.
Honors Program
The Latin American Studies program participates in the
honors program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures, relevant
dates, and specific project expectations are available on the Latin
American Studies website (macalester.edu/las/honorsprogram.html).
Major Requirements
The Latin American Studies major consists of 13
courses, as follows:
I. Introduction to Latin American Studies—1 course
Latin American Studies majors must take the
introductory course by the end of the sophomore year. Choose one of the
following courses:
Latin American Studies/Political Science 141 (Latin
America through Women’s Eyes) or Latin American Studies/History 181
(Introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean)
II. Language—1 or more courses
Competency in Spanish to the level of Hispanic Studies
305. Students who arrive at Macalester already competent at this level must
achieve competence either in French to the level of 204 or Portuguese to
the level of 331. In addition, the following course is required:
Latin American Studies/Hispanic Studies 307,
Introduction to the Analysis of Hispanic Texts
III. Latin America Across the Disciplines—6 courses
Choose six courses, including at least one Arts in
Context, one Humanities, and one Social Science course. At least one of
these courses must be an advanced seminar (i.e., 300- or 400-level).
Portuguese (Hispanic Studies 331) does not count as advanced.
Latin American Arts in Context
Hispanic Studies 418, Acting Out: The Comedia Across
the Atlantic
Hispanic Studies 423, Contemporary Latin American
Theater
Hispanic Studies 441, Hispanic Film and Other Media
Latin American Studies 282, Latin America: Art and
Nation
Theatre and Dance 264, Rights and Resistance: Theatre
and Film in Latin America
Humanities
Hispanic Studies 308, Locating U.S. Latino Studies:
Interdisciplinary Approaches
Hispanic Studies 331, Luso-Brazilian Voices:
Conversation and Composition
Hispanic Studies 414, Here and There: Superando
Liímites/Crossing Boundaries
Hispanic Studies 419, “Neither Saints nor
Sinners”: Women Writers of the Early Modern Hispanic World
Hispanic Studies 420, One Hundred Years of Plenitude:
Modern and Postmodern Hispanic Fiction
Hispanic Studies 425, Dictators, Revolutions and
Insurrections
Hispanic Studies 435, History of the Spanish Language
Hispanic Studies 440, Theorizing Contemporary U.S.
Latino Popular Culture
Hispanic Studies 444, The Family as History: The
Stories of U.S. Latinos
Latin American Studies 281, The Andes: Race, Region,
Nation
Latin American Studies 286, Media and Cultural Studies
of Latin America
Latin American Studies 415, Cultural Resistance and
Survival: Indigenous and African Peoples in Early Spanish America
Latin American Studies 416, Mapping the New World:
Exploration, Encounters and Disasters
Latin American Studies 436, Spanish Dialectology
Latin American Studies 494 (topics), Varies each
semester.
Social Sciences
Anthropology 358, Anthropology of Violence
Anthropology 487, Theory in Anthropology
Economics 119, Principles of Economics (when taught by
Amy Damon or Raymond Robertson)
Economics 221, Introduction to International
Economics* (paper must focus on Latin America)
Latin American Studies 244, Latino Politics
Latin American Studies 245, Latin American Politics
Latin American Studies 246, Comparative
Democratization
Latin American Studies 255, People and Cultures of
Latin America
Latin American Studies 265, Economics of International
Migration*
Latin American Studies 323, Economic Restructuring in
Latin America*
Latin American Studies 341, Comparative Social
Movements
IV. Methods—1 course
In consultation with their advisor, Latin American
Studies majors choose a methods course that will prepare them for their
senior Capstone project. This class should be taken before studying abroad.
Possible courses include:
Anthropology 230, Ethnographic Interviewing*
Political Science 269, Empirical Research Methods
Sociology 269, Science and Social Inquiry
Sociology 270, Interpretive Social Research
Sociology 275, Comparative-Historical Sociology
Theatre and Dance 110, Introduction to Theatre Studies
Theatre and Dance 260, Performance Studies Praxis:
Avant-Garde Arts and the Social
Theatre and Dance 489, Performance Theory Seminar
V. Study Abroad in Latin America—3 courses
Latin American majors must complete one semester of
full-time study on a study abroad program approved by the departmental
steering committee. This fulfills the requirement of 3 study abroad
courses.
VI. Capstone—1 course
Majors normally complete their capstone via the senior
seminar, which is offered every fall. Occasionally, a student may be
approved to complete their capstone via an independent project or another
appropriate course. Students participating in the honors program take Latin
American Studies 488 (Senior Seminar) in the fall and Latin American
Studies 644 (Honor Independent) in the spring of their senior year.
*Indicates a prerequisite is required. See course
description for details.
VI. Curricular Overlap
Due to the high degree of potential overlap between
major plans in Latin American studies and international studies, students
seeking to complete both majors must list, on each plan, at least six
courses that do not appear on the other plan.
Topics Courses
194, 294, 394, 494
Occasional courses on Latin American topics offered
from time to time by program and visiting Latin American studies faculty.
To be announced at registration. (4 credits)
|